This tutorial by Nick Antonaccio demonstrates how easy it is to accomplish real world programming goals with Rebol, a highly versatile, multiplatform scripting language created and maintained by Carl Sassenrath.

Rebol was designed with the aim of being a human-centric, network-based messaging language. It is a first class functional scripting language with automatic memory management, higher order functions, exception handling, and dialecting. It includes many built-in functions that allow you to work with math, text, files, networking, graphics and multimedia.

This text aims to teach average users to program computers to do useful things, without the long and difficult learning curve imposed by other programming languages. If you're an experienced programmer, be sure to check out the final example applications, where you will see Rebol's compact code and simple cross-platform usability. (For example, Rebol scripts and the interpreter can be run from a floppy disk or a USB key without installing anything on the host PC).

The concepts demonstrated throughout the tutorial will help new programmers understand other languages and programming tools, and will lay the groundwork for novices to acquire essential coding skills. Even novices will be able to actually create useful Rebol programs in the first few days. And Rebol isn't limited to certain types of applications or operating systems. Code written in Rebol is able to run unchanged on over 40 operating systems, and can be used to build an enormous variety of user applications with modern graphics, CGI interfaces, network functionality, database connectivity, and much more.

Intended Audience:

Readers who used to other development environments will find that Rebol is a beautifully designed language, contained in a compact and efficient package that properly replaces many other mainstream tools. Learning Rebol is productive, enjoyable, and thought provoking for both new and experienced coders.

No matter what the readers' experience level, learning Rebol will save them time and frustration at some point in their programming endeavors. It's a versatile little tool for which they will find many uses.